Each day the Earth receives enough energy from the Sun to power all of mankind’s needs for several years. Solar photovoltaic (PV) modules convert the energy received in light from the Sun into electricity. The sunlight causes electricity to flow through the crystalline silicone cells. Direct sunlight produces the most but power is produced even on overcast days.

In the UK, even in winter, our PV systems generate clean, renewable electricity. An Equinox Energy, very low maintenance, long lasting PV system will provide sought after green electricity that you can use or sell via the national grid. In the UK a typical 16m2, South facing 2kWp* PV system with a 30 degree pitch and little or no shading should produce more than 1,660 kWh's of clean electricity each year.

We can either retrofit to your existing building or work with your architect or builder to incorporate a PV system into a new build scheme. We can supply and install ‘bolt on’, ‘roof integrated’, ground mounted and ‘PV glass-glass glazing’ systems to suit almost any situation.

Both our domestic and commercial installations typically take less than a week. We work in an organised and methodical way and pre-prepare many items in our workshop before arriving on site. We can usually arrive to start your installation within 6 to 8 weeks of receiving your order.

If you would like a quotation for a PV system please go to our Would You Like a Quote page.

Government sources indicate that in the UK the average family use between 3000 and 3500 kWh’s of electricity each year. A 2kWp PV array would provide half of this annual consumption and at approximately 16m2 this array is the typical size of system that we install in a domestic situation. Of course larger systems are possible if there is suitable available space.

All installations

All Equinox Energy renewable energy systems are comprised of the best available components and are installed to a high standard. The examples below are for reference only - we design each system individually and the costs vary depending on the site specific circumstances.

See our Grid-Connect page for information about selling your green electricity.

Residential/Domestic PV installations

In these example prices we have included the cost of supply and installation and VAT at the domestic installation reduced rate of 5%. We have deducted the anticipated amount of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme grant.

Our grid connected PV systems start at just over £5k. A typical bolt on retrofit 2kWp system which we install in many domestic situations costs just over £9k. Where there is suitable available roof space larger systems are possible but usually these systems do not exceed 5kWp for a residential property.

Roof integrated systems which can be fitted to a new roof or when re-roofing
are more expensive. For instance a 2kWp PV800/SRT40 system would cost approximately £16.5k.

These example prices are dependent on site specific circumstances and exclude the cost of scaffolding (if required) and an AC electrical feed to the site of the inverter(s).

Commercial PV installations

Please contact us for budget prices on commercially scaled systems above 5kWp. These systems typically benefit from economies of scale and VAT at 17.5% is recoverable for most organisations. For large scale projects and / or new build developments we can further reduce costs in a number of ways by for instance training your own operatives to install the systems leaving us to test and commission them.

Government gives green light to microgeneration

New planning rules to allow homeowners to install solar panels, ground source heat pumps and other microgeneration technologies to help cut carbon emissions have been given the green light by the government. From April 6 2008, all homeowners will be able to install microgeneration equipment, like solar panels, without needing to get planning permission, as long as certain criteria are met. Click here to read the Town and Country Planning document to see exactly what is and what isn’t permitted: www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080675_en_1

If planning permission is required then it is useful to be aware that Planning Policy Statement 22 (PPS22) sets out a clear national policy framework on renewable energy for planning authorities in England to ensure that the Government's renewable energy targets are met. Under PPS22 Regional and Local Planning Authorities should recognise the full range of renewable energy sources, their differing characteristics, locational requirements and the potential for exploiting them subject to appropriate environmental safeguards. Small scale developments can also be permitted within areas such as National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Heritage Coasts provided that there is no serious environmental detriment to the area concerned. PPS22 introduces a new policy area for small systems by encouraging Local Planning Authorities to require that new developments should supply a percentage of their energy needs from onsite renewable energy sources.

Research (for Bryant Homes) recently revealed that 90% of people would prefer their homes to be environmentally friendly and that 40% are willing to pay more for this. Solar PV houses, delivering free clean electricity for life, sell faster and at a premium. This research reflects the position in Germany where the PV market is far more mature than it is in the UK.

• * A kilowatt peak is a standard industry measure of the theoretical maximum output under test conditions for a given area of PV.
• 1 kilowatt hour (kWh) = 1 unit of electricity
• EST accredited installer reference 1024GC

Click on the button below to download a PV system Schematic.

The discovery of the photovoltaic effect is generally attributed to Edmond Becquerel who wrote a paper in 1839 describing his experiments. In 1958 the US space satellite ‘Vanguard 1’ used PV cells to power a radio transmitter. Of course, the use of PV in spacecraft today is universal.